Abstract
Background12.7 million people await a corneal transplant, but 53% are without access to corneal tissue. Sharing corneal tissue across nations can provide some access, however the willingness of export populations, like Australians, to export their donation on death, has never been evaluated. Our research samples the Australian population, determining their willingness to export.Materials and methodWe conducted e-surveys. N = 1044 Australians participated. The sample represented the Australian population, based on population demographics. Chi-Square and bivariate correlation coefficients examined associations between categorical variables, with a sample size of N = 1044, power of 0.80, and alpha of p = 0.05. Outcome measures were based on population sampling, by exploring willingness export, through the e-survey method.Results38% (n = 397) of respondents said yes to exportation, 23.8% (n = 248) said no, and 38.2% (n = 399) were undecided. We found no relationship between willingness to export and general demographics, though those registered on the Donatelife Register (p = < .001), and those already willing to donate their eyes (p = < .001) were significantly more willing to export.DiscussionMore Australians are willing to export their corneas than not, though a significant portion remain undecided. The Donatelife Register, and donation awareness, are key components of respondent decision making. Therefore, the provision of information about exportation prior to, and at the point-of-donation, is essential for assisting Australian’s to decide to export or not. Further examination and development of consent-for-export systems are necessary before routine exportation is undertaken.
Highlights
Nations without routine local access to corneal tissue rely on transnational activity as a method of obtaining corneal tissue for corneal transplantation in their nation [1,2]
We described corneal tissue transnational activity as donation sharing within the e-survey, to ensure that the respondents did not associate unethical trading or the black-market movement of human body parts and transplant tourism, with our examination of nationally planned and permitted activity
Our analyses found no significant relationship between respondent demographics and characteristics of gender, age, where they lived, vision impairment, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, transplant recipient, waiting for a corneal transplant, born in Australia, or healthcare worker, and their willingness to export (Table 1)
Summary
12.7 million people await a corneal transplant, but 53% are without access to corneal tissue. Sharing corneal tissue across nations can provide some access, the willingness of export populations, like Australians, to export their donation on death, has never been evaluated. Our research samples the Australian population, determining their willingness to export
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